Mechanically stabilized earth retaining wall system and method of use

Abstract

A retaining wall system is provided for mechanically stabilizing an earthen wall. The system comprises anchor receiving channels, anchoring tie back strips, and a plurality of connecting anchors. A face panel comprises at least one fastener receiving channel and a prefabricated wall fascia panel. Tie back members extend from the wall panels and are to be embedded within the earthen soil or backfill material thereby securing the tie backs and the wall panels in a fixed assembled, position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retaining wall system for securing and retaining an earthen fill, comprising:
 a wall panel comprising an inner face adapted for retaining a fill material, an outer face, an upper end, a lower end and a predetermined thickness between said inner and outer face;   the inner face comprising an elongate recess;   an elongate channel provided at least partially within the elongate recess, the elongate channel comprising a substantially rigid material;   an anchor member secured to and extending outwardly from the elongate channel;   a reinforcing member secured to the anchor member and extending away from the wall panel, wherein the reinforcing member, the anchor member, the elongate channel, and the wall panel are provided in force transmitting communication.   
     
     
         2 . The retaining wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor member comprises a plurality of extension members, the reinforcing member comprises a plurality of elongate recesses, and wherein at least one of the extension members is provided through at least one of the elongate recesses. 
     
     
         3 . The retaining wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member comprises a substantially planar member. 
     
     
         4 . The retaining wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member extends substantially perpendicular from the inner face of the wall panel. 
     
     
         5 . The retaining wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate recess comprises a preformed recess extending along a width of the inner face of the wall panel. 
     
     
         6 . The retaining wall system of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of elongate recess are provided. 
     
     
         7 . The retaining wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member is secured to the anchor member by at least one of compression, welding, bonding, and fastening. 
     
     
         8 . The retaining wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor member comprises a flexible extension for insertion into the elongate channel, the flexible extension comprising a contact surface for transmitting a force to the elongate channel. 
     
     
         9 . A retaining wall system for securing and retaining an earthen fill, comprising:
 a prefabricated wall panel comprising a width, a height, an inner face adapted for retaining a fill material and an outer face;   the inner face comprising a plurality of elongate recesses extending along at least one of a width and the height of the wall panel;   the plurality of elongate recesses comprising elongate channels provided at least partially within the elongate recesses, the elongate channel comprising a substantially rigid material;   an anchor member secured to and extending from the elongate channel, the anchor member comprising a flexible extension adapted for substantially elastic deformation between at least a first state and a second state;   wherein the first state of the flexible extension comprises a deflected state that allows for insertion of the anchor member into the elongate channel, and the second state comprises an expanded state wherein the anchor member is substantially secured within the elongate channel;   a substantially planar reinforcing member extending from the anchor member inwardly from the inner face, the substantially planar member adapted to receive the anchor member and convey a tension force to the wall panel.   
     
     
         10 . The retaining wall system of  claim 9 , wherein the reinforcing member comprises a substantially planar sheet member extending along the width of the wall panel. 
     
     
         11 . The retaining wall system of  claim 9 , wherein the reinforcing member extends substantially perpendicular from the inner face of the wall panel. 
     
     
         12 . The retaining wall system of  claim 9 , wherein the elongate recess comprises a preformed recess extending along a height of the inner face of the wall panel. 
     
     
         13 . The retaining wall system of  claim 9 , wherein the reinforcing member is secured to the anchor member by at least one of compression, welding, bonding, and fastening. 
     
     
         14 . The retaining wall system of  claim 9 , wherein the anchor member comprises a flexible extension, the flexible extension comprising a contact surface for transmitting a force to the elongate channel. 
     
     
         15 . A method for providing a mechanically stabilized retaining wall comprising the steps of:
 providing a wall panel in the form of a rectilinear cube, the wall panel comprising an outer face, an inner face, an upper end, a lower end, and a width defined by said inner face and said outer face;   forming an elongate recess extending along at least one of a height and a width on the inner face;   providing a channel at least partially within the elongate recess such that the channel is securely fixed at least in a direction substantially perpendicular to the elongate axis of the elongate recess;   providing an anchor comprises a plurality of extension members in force-transmitting communication with the channel by deflecting at least one extension member of the anchor such that said portion is provided in a compressed state and inserting at least said portion into a lateral terminus of the channel;   providing a reinforcing element in connection with the anchor by inserting at least one extension member through an opening in the reinforcing element such that the soil reinforcing element extends from the inner face of the wall panel.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing at least one of an earthen soil and a backfill material proximal at least one of the soil reinforcing element and the inner face of the wall panel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the reinforcing element is positioned as extending substantially perpendicularly to the inner face. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the reinforcing element is provided as a substantially planar sheet. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a plurality of elongate recesses are formed in the inner face. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of elongate recesses extend along at least a portion of the width of the inner face.